The Life Cycle of Larger Stars Flashcards

All 6 cards in this deck

Name, in order, the stages in the life cycle of a star much more massive than the Sun.

Nebula → protostar → main sequence star → red supergiant → supernova → neutron star or black hole.

What is a supernova?

The huge explosion of a massive star at the end of its red supergiant stage.

What decides whether a supernova leaves behind a neutron star or a black hole?

The mass of the star — the most massive stars form black holes.

What determines the life cycle a star will follow?

Its size (mass).

Which stages are the same for a Sun-sized star and a much more massive star?

Nebula, protostar and main sequence star — the life cycles differ only after the main sequence.

True or false? Every massive star ends its life as a black hole.

False. A supernova leaves either a neutron star or, for the most massive stars, a black hole.